If it wasn’t bad enough that Republican presidential candidates want to be able to imprison people without trials or judicial review, the Bush White House is embarking on a wild series of complete fabrications in order to diminish the popularity of Democrats in Congress. Hilzoy at Obsidian Wings has the details, but here’s the super-short summary:

• When Republicans do it, it’s not a tax increase - Bush, during his radio address, claimed Democrats have already increased taxes. How? By not extending the Bush tax cuts in the latest budget, just as Republicans didn’t do in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. Apparently, when Democrats leave a law the way Republicans wrote it, it’s a tax increase. Needless to say, this is why the bill was written the way it was.
• Stupid criticisms about Pelosi Syria visit - The White House criticized Pelosi for planning a trip to Syria saying, “we discourage members of Congress to make such visits to Syria.” No word of what they think of the Republican Congressional trip that’s in Syria right now. Or whether these criticisms extend to the Republican member of Congress going with her… Media Matters has more details.

I will be happy when these folks are out of office.